After finishing his load of work, Sungjae immediately went down the parking lot to get his car. He needed to go home as soon as he could, planning to watch Y6 TV as soon as possible. He even dismissed Secretary Kim an hour ago because, he's not sure why, but it seems the middle-aged man has been throwing him side glances and weird looks since earlier and he felt really uncomfortable with that.
When he drove past the security, his phone suddenly rang.
"Harabeoji," he answered through his hands-free device. "Oh, I just got out of the office. What? Dinner? I'm sorry I still have something to do at home— No." He sighed audibly when he realized he couldn't argue with his grandfather. "I'll be there in a moment," he ended the call and slammed his hands against the steering wheel.
Seems like he had to cancel his plan.
He arrived at the mansion after a couple of minutes drive. Two servants greeted him and offered him a change of slippers while the head butler escorted him to the dining room. "I also live here, you know," he said with a tone of sarcasm as he wriggled out of his jacket and threw it on the couch.
"Good evening, harabeoji— oh... Why I didn't know you have a guest," he scoffed as he rested his hands on his hips. "You're quite fast, Secretary Kim,"
The tall and slim man just stood up to bow at him. "I was summoned by the chairman here,"
"Sit down," The chairman told him and he did so. "You seem to like your place near Y6 a lot you don't even come home here,"
"Ani... It's just that it's more convenient staying there, harabeoji," Sungjae said, which was true. "I can easily go back and forth to Y6."
"Still, you get late for your meetings. Time is precious for other people as well. Bear that in mind next time."
Sungjae could just scowl at his secretary from across the table. He was shooting him deadly glares while at the back of his head, he has branded him a traitor. He was so sure his grandfather already knew about his mistakes like messing up with BTOB's schedule, approving Taeyeon's requests, and IU's sudden comeback, and to top it off, his current misunderstanding with Director Yoo.
"Eat up," the old man interrupted his thoughts. He nodded and started stabbing his food with his knife his eyes never leaving his secretary, as if sending him a warning: Since you have stabbed me on my back, I'll stab you into pieces like this.
"Don't you like the food?" the Chairman pointed his dinner knife at his plate and he just smiled at him.
"I'm not feeling really well, harabeoji. I'm cutting my food so that I won't have indigestion later."
"Chew properly. Eat slowly. And eat on time. You'll really have indigestion if you keep on having bad eating habits." the old man told him. "No matter how busy you are, have time for a good meal. I heard you've skipped a lot and kept ordering fastfood recently."
This is it, Sungjae thought. He glared at the secretary across him. It has finally started. What else did he tell his grandfather?
"How's the food in the cafeteria?"
"Yeh?" he thought he heard the wrong question.
"You went there earlier, right?"
"Ah... Neh. The food was really warm and tasty. I was really hungry and couldn't wait anymore so—"
"Secretary Kim, make sure to always make him have his meal on time. Assign someone in the cafeteria to look after his meals. Make a list of the food he likes and those he doesn't. He doesn't look really well right now."
"I'm sorry sir. I will do my best,"
Sungjae could just switch his eyes from his grandfather to the secretary in bewilderment. Did he miss something? What was going on?
"I heard you signed that schedule for BTOB. And also, IU's sudden comeback?"
"Ah... Yes." I did, accidentally, he thought. He gulped hard, almost choking on the piece of meat he just shoved into his mouth.
"I'm glad you understand the importance of media and how powerful they are. The attention our Entertainment Department has been getting is quite impressive and any release while the lime light is still on us usually produces positive outcomes. And it did. You're doing a good job so far. I'm looking forward to your next move."
"But how about the rookies?" he couldn't help but open up the topic himself. This was strange! It wasn't the reaction he was expecting from his grand father. "Director Yoo wanted them to be there at BTOB's showcase and I stopped it! Aren't you going to scold me for that?"
"Why would I? You see, you are the CEO of the company. And the rest, they need to know their place. It was just right to show them you are not easy and that you have your own decision."
Sungjae dropped his mouth wide open in shock. What the hell just happened?
There he was, seething in anger at his secretary whom he already murdered in his mind. He got so nervous he almost peed in his pants, scared that his grandfather might scold him for failing so hard but instead he got praised?
But it seems the surprises didn't end yet that night. Secretary Kim, the prim and proper, and always poker-faced, emotionless man, was smiling ear to ear when he lifted his head and it was like the biggest, grandest, shock to him.
The man could smile like that? For real?
"Wahhh... Jinjja..." Sungjae rubbed his lips in awe. "I didn't know you can smile like that Secretary Kim!"
"Hahaha!" The Chairman laughed and tapped his former assistant secretary's shoulder. "He only smiles when he's proud of his accomplishments after getting a job done."
"And that's me?" Sungjae pointed at himself quizzically.
The chairman nodded. "Your job affects him the most. So please Secretary Kim," he turned to the man at his left. "...Please bear with my grandson a little more. I know, you are the only one for this job,"
The dinner finished lightly, with the chairman who was seemingly in a good mood. Secretary Kim finally bade goodbye, in his usual, mannerly way and after a few private words with the Chairman, he left. Sungjae, wanting to return the compliments he earned, told the old man he will stay there for the night and though he only got a nod from his grandfather, it was enough for him. He knew his grandfather so well. Only talks about the business can get his attention. He was not the typical grandfather in the books who would go fishing or camping or storytelling with his grandson. And tonight, probably, was the closest they have ever been since he came back.
Obviously, anything about business can make or break their relationship.
--------------------------------
Sooyoung was on her way back to the dance studio after a call when she saw Changsub walking down the hallway. The guy was wearing a pair of sunglasses, with earphones plugged in his ears, browsing on something on his phone, not even minding he was singing quite loudly.
"Changsub oppa!" Sooyoung called him. She wasn't sure why but she has always felt naturally comfortable around him that calling him that way was easy for her. Maybe it started that night they had to help the drunk Sungjae into his apartment, she wasn't sure, but to her, the man gives her that older brother figure. "Changsub oppa!" She called him once more but the man couldn't hear her. She ran towards him and bowed politely. "Annyeonghaseyo! Red Velvet Joy imnida!"
